Portrait of the Artist (recto); Fragment of a Landscape Study (verso)
Original title: Portrait of the Artist (recto); Fragment of a Landscape Study (verso)
kurzbeschreibung
Paul Cézanne drew this sheet around 1880 in graphite. On the recto is a self-portrait of the artist, showing himself as a balding, bearded man in half-profile. The verso carries a fragment of a landscape study.
Description
A bearded man with a bald head tilts his head slightly to the left. His hair appears loose and slightly disheveled, creating a lively presence. At the neck, a jacket or coat is indicated. The drawing remains in black and white, using primarily hatching and brushstrokes to bring out contours and shading. The light is even, without strong shadows or highlights.
Context
Cézanne made this self-portrait at a time when he was deeply engaged with his artistic identity. Around 1880 he often worked in the surroundings of Paris and was developing his unmistakable style, later regarded as a precursor of modernism. The landscape study on the reverse points to his simultaneous engagement with nature, which was central to his work.
Impact
The precise hatching and calm layout make the drawing appear concentrated and inward-looking. The slightly disheveled hair and the half-profile pose give the portrait a personal, almost intimate note.
Technique
The work is executed in graphite on paper. Cézanne uses fine hatching and sometimes broader strokes. This achieves a graded modeling of face and clothing, while the verso offers a sketchy landscape study.
AI-generated description text
Source: Metropolitan Museum of Art · Public Domain (CC0 1.0)